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Niagara Falls
Friday, March 29, 2024
COVID-19: Back from Bali, safe and sound

Gail Kendall

Special to The Lake Report
Home sweet home: 15,835 kilometres, three flights, not sure how many antibacterial wipes and I have never been so happy to touch down in my own country. 

As Lake Report readers know, I travelled to beautiful Bali on March 10. The Indonesian province has been #1 on my bucket list for as long as I can remember and when the opportunity presented itself last May, I took it and signed up for the trip. I have never booked a trip almost a year in advance so I was sure to properly insure. I insured the trip and the flights.  

COVID-19 was not as prevalent when I left as it is now, but there was concern about traveling and returning.  We had a couple of people drop out of our group but the rest of us soldiered on. The woman leading our group is a friend and runs a travel business, so I put all my faith in her, her knowledge and resources.  

I was the lone Canadian in the group and always made it known, as I do when I travel. People around the world just love Canadians and Bali was no exception. 

While we enjoyed all Bali had to offer, a dark cloud did appear with escalating numbers of people infected with the virus. Travel was becoming affected and fear was beginning to set in. Well-intentioned friends were constantly messaging me with news links and pleas to come home. 

I was caught in the middle of cutting an amazing trip short to return home or continuing on and trusting I would have no difficulty returning to my country. 

I told my travel companions that until Justin (the Americans love how we are on a first name basis with our prime minister) called me home, I was staying.  

Well, on Tuesday, March 17, that call came in. “If you are abroad, it’s time to come home” Trudeau announced. 

I took time away from group activities to attempt to change my flights to get home sooner. This proved to be impossible. 

Air Canada has one phone number for you to call and it can’t be reached from Bali. I found a number for AC in Jakarta and after many attempts finally got through, only to be told that everything was still on track for my flights home. They could change my flights but it was going to result in many, many hours of layovers in some airports.  

I had the option of purchasing new tickets but by this point, the costs had escalated and I was looking at close to $4,000 to get home.  

Interestingly, my American friends did not seem disturbed at all. 

Not having a lot of choice, I decided to carry on and trust that my government would not immediately shut down travel and allow those still abroad to get home as scheduled. 

I tried to remain positive, knowing I was in a country with low numbers of infections. Bali at the time was not overrun with tourists so we were able to practise physical distancing. I can say that one of the positive things about travelling during a global pandemic is you won't find yourself among large groups of tourists. No lineups, empty restaurants and events, and the people of Bali are so genuinely grateful that we were there at all.  We were treated as queens. 

We all continued to wash and sanitize and we were cautious enough to eliminate activities such as wading into the temple waters for a blessing.  Instead, the priests came to us to give private blessings. 

I don’t think I have ever travelled anywhere where health was such a priority. We dined on the most magnificent fresh fruit (I love dragon fruit), vegetables and healthy vegan Balinese fare. We took time to rest and rejuvenate and the last four days of our trip was in the north at a Zen resort where we received Ayurvedic health and spa treatments that helped to build and maintain a healthy immune system. 

Our temperature was taken at each restaurant and event we attended. 

It was one week later that the Americans got the call to come home and then their panic set in. A couple of people decided to leave via Australia but were denied entry so had to scramble at the airport to rearrange flights. Another were quoted $12,000 for two flights home. 

I did wake up one day to a change of flight with Air Canada.  it was for the same day but a different time. 

I left Bali on March 23 and checking in for my flight to Singapore, my temperature was taken. In the waiting area, alternate seats were X’d off promoting physical distancing but the flights were full as they attempted to get all travellers home. 

I was fortunate that on each flight I was in an empty row so I did not have to touch anyone or be in close proximity. 

I continued to wipe down my area and refrained from touching any public surface as much as possible. 

We were the last flight out of Bali to Singapore. Upon arrival in Singapore, we had a two-hour layover and were escorted to a waiting area as they were preparing to shut down the airport. 

At Heathrow, all shops except a pharmacy were closed and they were only accepting credit cards, no cash. I had five hours and was permitted in the Air Canada lounge but all that was served was coffee. 

When I arrived in Canada, I was questioned about where I had been and asked if I had any COVID-19 symptoms. We were told to self-isolate for 14 days and I was then free to leave. 

I have no regrets.  it was a once-in-a-lifetime event and I am grateful that it was to a place that promotes health and wellness.

In future, I feel thre needs to be more in place to assist people, maybe a designated phone line to airlines for those already abroad. I think as we arrived in our country that at the very least our temperatures should have been taken and we should have actually signed a binding document saying we would self-isolate for 14 days and physically isolate after that. I think the airport in Denpasar, Bali's capital, did a much better job than we did in North America. 

And while I appreciated all of my friends pleas to come home, some of the hysteria and information received and shared via social media made things more stressful. 

I was fortunate to have travelled with a group of fearless and adventurous people who were intelligent enough to be cautious and calm in light of us being at the other end of the world during a global pandemic. 

We have now named our journey the Eat Pray Sanitize Tour.

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